Dream Girl Film Review: Someone to Talk to

If you are thinking of watching Dream Girl as an antidote to that hard-hitting film you saw lately, it is anything but that. Dream Girl is undoubtedly shallow, often leaving the viewer nothing much to reflect upon but a bunch of stereotypical characters. In a climactic sequence, when the protagonist is elucidating the failings of modern society, it seems discordant with the rest of the movie that is about as trivial as they get. Let us explore in greater detail in the Dream Girl film review.

Dream Girl misses an opportunity to delve more in-depth into the world of phone chat. It barely manages to scratch its surface and that too not entirely convincingly. Also, none of the characters in the film are particularly likable so that the viewer can sympathize with them. Yes, the protagonist who dabbles with his ability to mimic a feminine voice, courtesy of which he lands a job at a phone chat center, is oddly compelling at times. However, even he is too self-absorbed to steal him of any endearing quality.

None of the smaller parts in Dream Girl are of any real importance in propelling the story. There is a punkish teen, a dreamy cop, a misandrist, et al. You get the drift. All of them call in to have a flirtatious rendezvous with the protagonist, who operates under the pseudonym of Pooja. There is not much in terms of character depth or insight to hold onto here, and even the central character frequently comes off as witless. The less said of Nushrat Bharucha’s role as his fiancée the better, which in one word is woeful.

The only saving grace for Dream Girl comes by way of a splendid performance from veteran actor Annu Kapoor. He is a delight to watch as he entrances the viewers with a hilarious performance as the protagonist’s father. Annu Kapoor helms some of the most impressive moments in this tiresome film that is, for the most part, a slog to sit through.

Ayushmann Khurrana is obviously on a roll since delivering a string of hit films. Dream Girl though is not in the same league as some of his better performances. I am sure that he will get better scripts to bedazzle us with his acting abilities. Only, Dream Girl is not the film you would pick from his repertoire when looking for an outstanding Ayushmann Khurrana performance.

Dream Girl is an excellent example showing that merely having an idea is not enough to convert it into an engaging movie. If we look at its premise, there is scope for a charming film. I mean, what can go wrong when it is trying to portray the uncertainties of a man whose only talent lies in his knack to mimic a feminine voice. Well, a lot.

Not only does Dream Girl take ages to get somewhere, the supporting cast, except Annu Kapoor, is also comically all over the place. Some shoddy writing undermines the likes of Rajesh Sharma and Vijay Raaz who are otherwise spot-on. Dream Girl is replete with scenes that are supposed to make you laugh but do not manage to elicit as much as a giggle.

I had almost entirely given up on the vain exercise of watching this drab unfold when out of the blue, Annu Kapoor delivers a standout performance. The latter seems to come from nowhere and is so much against the flow until then, that it needs some believing that it is the same movie.

If you expect to get anything much out of Dream Girl, besides a couple of outrageously funny scenes, you are in for a disappointment. The befuddling part is that even though Dream Girl seems to go on forever, it cannot manage a single hummable song before the end credits roll. Dream Girl is at best a fleeting distraction for fans of Annu Kapoor, and that is about it.

Dream Girl film review rates Dream Girl (2 / 5)

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